She was an Oklahoma farm girl. Her dad, my great-grandfather, had a Piper Cub on the farm that she learned to fly. She joined the WASP but, shortly after she graduated they canceled the program. She came back to Oklahoma and went to work in Tulsa at North American Aviation as an inspector. She later earner her CFI and her and my grandpa owned a Cessna dealership.

She was always proud of being a WASP and we were always proud of her. When the WASPs received the CGM, we loaded the whole family up in a motor home and drove to D.C. for the ceremony. There weren't many of the 1000-some WASP left by then and they were all in their 70s or 80s. Going out to dinner was an experience. Every time one of those ladies walked into a restaurant, the entire restaurant would stand and clap.

It took way too long for those ladies to be recognized for volunteering to serve their country. They were looked down upon by the male pilots, discriminated against, and likely even sabotaged during their service. Those women were brave Americans and I'm proud to have one as my grandmother.